smith



Patented Nov. 20; 1883.

, (No Md el.)

. R. H. SMITH.

APPARATUS FORTHBMANUFAGTURE 0F GAS. .No. 288,741.

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ROLAND H SMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE oF GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 288,741, dated November 2c, 1883,

Application filed January 11, 1883. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that L'ROLAND H. SMITH, of

Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny, and in the State of Pennsylvania, have'inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Gas from Oil and WVater or from Oannel-Ooal and WVater; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

construction of the retort or generator, as In orefully hereinafter specified. These objects I attain by the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of my improved apparatus, and Fig. 2 a detached sectional view of a portion of .the apparatus, showing a modification of my invention.

The letter A indicates a frame or structure of suitable material, and B the retort. The said retort is constructed of sheet or cast metal lined with fire-clay or. fire-brick or tiles, and on its outside is provided with an annular band having a horizontal flange at its upper edge.

The letter 0 indicates a series of curved legs which at their lower ends are securely bolted to the top or table of the frame, and at their upper ends to the flanged band encircling the retort or generator, the said legs serving to support the retort or generator directly over a central aperture in the top or table of the frame.

The retort is frustum-shaped, and at its top is provided with an annular chamber, D, in which the lower edge of the top E sets, as 111- dicated. The said chamber is filled with lead or other easily-fusible metal, which forms a seat to prevent the escape of gas.

The top of the retort is provided with a short stand-pipe, F, from which extends a and purifying apparatus, as usual.

branch pipe, G, which leads to the washing At .the upper part of the standpipe is an annular sealchamber, H, which is filled with fusible metal, and has a cap, I, provided with a stuffing-box, K, through which extends the upper end of a Vertical rod, L. The outside of the rod L, within the retort or generator, is coated with fire-clay or tiles, as indicated by the letter M, and with a series of spiders or perforated shelves N, for the purpose hereinafter described, the said shelves being constructed of suitable refractory material. The rod has also secured to it a plate, 1?, which forms the bottom of the retort or generator, which has an annular recess or chamber at its edge, into which the lower edge of the said retort or generator sets when the parts are together, the said recess or chamber being filled with fusible metal to form a gas-tight seal. The lower part of the rod is provided with teeth on opposite sides, forming racks R, with which engage the cog-wheels S, mounted onshafts suitably journaled, and provided with cranks or other means by which they may be operated; or, instead of the rack and ratchetwheel, a screw and nut may be used.

The letter T indicates 'a spider located at the lower end of the stand-pipe, and secured to the top of the retort or generator on its interior, through which the vertical rod works, and which serves as a guide for the same.

Into the lower part of the generator extends an air-pipe, U, which connects with a suitable air-blast, and is provided with a valve, V, by means of which the supply of air may be regulated. The pipe is turned upward at its inner end, so as to direct the blast upward through the retort. The said pipe has ex tending into it a pipe, W, which also extends upward at its inner end, and connects at its outer end with a suitable steam-generator, by means of which steam may be injected into the retort or generator.

The letter A indicates a series of siphonpipes for the introduction of oil at different points to the retort or generator.

The letter 13 indicates two swinging doors, pivoted at G to the lugs D, attached to the outside of the retort 'or generator, and adapted to be closed up against the bottom of the retort, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The cog-wheels which operate the rack-bar are provided with ratchets and pawls E, by which they are held to support the rack-bar when required.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the retort or generating-chamber is provided near its lower end with an annular chamber connecting with the air-induction pipe and cominunicating with the interior of such generjoints are dispensed with and flanged joints,

bolted together in the usual manner, are substituted. WVhen thus generating gas under pressuresay from ten to one hundred and fifty pounds per square inchthe pressure of the steam from the boiler serves to introduce the steam, and the oil and air are introduced by suitable pumps or other forcing mechanism.

In operating my invention the rack-bar is depressed by means of the cog-gearing, so as to bring the spiders or shelves with the bottom of the retort or generator below the same. The upper spider or shelf is then charged with a suitable quantity of lime, the neXt below with coke, cannel-coal, or other carbonaceous material, and the lower one with wood and coal to start the fire within the retort or generator. The rack-bar is then elevated, the fire started, and the air blown in to urge the combustion and heat the interior to the proper temperature to decompose the oil, which is then introduced, and the supply kept up so long as the temperature is suitably elevated. The oil-supply is then stopped and air again introduced, as before, and by the aid of the residual oil in the charge the charge is again heated to a sufficient temperature to decompose a current of steam introduced through the steam-induction pipe into a fixed gas. The supply of steam is continued so long as the heat of the generator is sufficient to decompose it. After repeated uses insuchmanner the coal or coke will be reduced to ashes, and the lime will become foul, when, by the means already described, the shelves may be withdrawn, recharged, and replaced, ready for a subsequent operation.

The generator at suitable points is provided with openings covered with mica or other refractory transparent substance, through which the interior of the retort may be observed in order to properly conduct the operation of the apparatus.

I would not be understood as intending to claim, broadly, a removable bottomfor a gas retort or generator adapted to be lowered and elevated from and to its normal position, since such a bottom has been heretofore known.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A gas-generating apparatus consisting of a retort or generator suitably mounted upon a frame and provided with a detachable bottom, secured to a rack-bar, which is also provided with a series of perforated shelves or spiders, and the gear-wheels, whereby the retort or generator may be charged and discharged, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a gas apparatus, with the retort or generator thereof, of the vertical rod or shaft provided with series of shelves and a disk constituting the bottom of the retort, and having an annular recess formed therein, the said rod having its upper portion coated with a fire-proof material, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an apparatus for generating gas, of the retort or generator, the vertical rack-bar and movable bottom, the spiders or shelves, and the air, steam, and oilinduction pipes, the stand-pipe, and eductionpipe, and the hingedbottom sections, the whole arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 27th day of November, 1882.

ROLAND H. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

WVALTER Mourns, H. J. O. MooRE. 

